chimera
n.n. a creature or object that is made by combining parts from different things. In modern science, it refers to an animal that has parts from two or more different species.
n. a creature or object composed of parts from different sources. In modern biological contexts, it refers to an organism containing cells or tissues from two or more genetically distinct sources.
The scientist created a chimera by combining DNA from two different animals.
In ancient mythology, the chimera was a monstrous creature with the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and the tail of a serpent.
The geneticist's work on the chimera challenged traditional definitions of species boundaries, as the hybrid organism exhibited traits from both parent lineages.
Variant of Middle English chimere, chymere, & chymera under renewed Latin influence from the 16th century, from French chimère, from Latin Chimaera, from Ancient Greek Χίμαιρα (Khímaira, “fire-breathing mythological monster, fire-spewing Lycian or Cilician mountain”), from χίμαιρα (khímaira, “she-goat”, from χίμαρος (khímaros, “male goat”) + -α (-a)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰey-. In reference to the fish, directly from Latin Chimaera, used by Linnaeus. In reference to organisms with distinct areas of different genetic makeups, a calque of German Chimäre, used by Hans Winkler in 1907.